The Journal provides minute-by-minute analysis of the Champions League Leg 1 semifinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Joshua Robinson offers commentary live from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, while Joe E. Melvin and Freddy Sebastian provide analysis on the telecast. (Here’s analysis of Tuesday’s game between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea.)

Many fans had hoped that tonight’s matchup between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would be the Champions League final next month in Lisbon. Instead, it came a round early. But on the bright side, we get this game twice. And we’re here at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid for the first leg.

In terms of European soccer royalty, you could hardly pick two more decorated sides. Real has won the Champions League and its previous iteration, the European Cup, a record nine times. (A tenth success, known here as La Decima, would mean more to the fans here than several years’ worth of domestic trophies.) Bayern, meanwhile, is a five-time champion and started the tournament as favorites. Besides Real, only AC Milan has been more successful in Europe than the German side.

They’ve also met six times before at the semifinal stage, with Bayern winning four.

But the bigger story tonight focuses on recent history. Bayern’s manager is Pep Guardiola, the former manager of Barcelona and sworn nemesis of Real. During his time in Catalonia, he faced this club 15 times, winning nine games and drawing four. Which is pretty much the fastest way to get yourself banned from any Madrid bar — at least in a Real neighborhood.

The two sides have met in five European Cup semi-finals with Bayern prevailing in 1976, 1987, 2001 and 2012; Madrid’s sole win came in 2000.

Between them the clubs have 14 European Cups. Bayern, five-time winners, are seeking to become the first side to retain the title since AC Milan managed the feat in 1989 and 1990 with a team featuring Carlo Ancelotti, now Madrid coach.

Overall they have faced each other nine times in two-legged encounters, with five wins for Bayern and four for Madrid. The Spanish club last got the better of Bayern in the 2003/04 round of 16 when a solitary strike by Zinédine Zidane – now Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant coach – secured a 1-0 second-leg victory at the Santiago Bernabéu and 2-1 overall triumph.

Madrid are the top scorers in the Champions League with 32 goals, three shy of the record for the current format (with a maximum of 13 games) set by themselves and FC Barcelona in 2011/12, when both exited in the last four.

We’ve got lineups. And the big news tonight is that Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for Real Madrid tonight, but Gareth Bale isn’t. Ill since last weekend, he hasn’t played since winning the Copa del Rey with a stunning goal that saw him spring 50 yards around the Barcelona defense. So he drops to the bench.

And of course, Iker Casillas returns between the sticks, in keeping with the bizarre goalkeeper platoon strategy that José Mourinho instituted when he was the manager here last year. (Casillas plays in all the cup competitions, while Diego Lopez starts all the league games.)

Life hasn’t been quite as rosy for the German champions since they clinched the domestic league nearly a month ago. That’s right, in March, with seven games to spare. They were undefeated at the time, but have lost twice this month. Manager Pep Guardiola admitted that he struggled to motivate them once the silverware was safe.

Still, Bayern shouldn’t need the extra motivation tonight as they aim to become the first team to successfully defend Europe’s biggest prize since AC Milan in 1990.

Bayern’s brought all of its weopons to Madrid, with Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Mario Mandzukic all in the lineup tonight.

Real Madrid have not been to a Champions League final in 12 years and have been obsessed with raising its 10th continental trophy since then, when French master Zinedine Zidane netted the game winner in a 2-1 win over Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen.

But standing in its way is defending champions Bayern Munich, which eliminated Real Madrid in penalty kicks in last year’s semifinals. To make it more cruel for the Spanish side, their former nemesis at rivals Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, stands on the sidelines for the German squad. Guardiola won trophies galore during his spell with Barca but played down his undefeated record at the Santiago Bernabeau stadium in a press conference.

The Germans want to be the first team to win back-to-back Champions League trophies and raise its sixth as well and are still in the running to take home another treble this year.

Much has been speculated about both sides’ defensive schemes but Bayern Munich have only conceded 13 goals in its first 27 league games in the Bundesliga. Following that, though, they leaked seven in its next three matches, as Guardiola admitted that the champs took their foot off the gas a bit since officially being crowned domestic winners last month.

No Gareth Bale in the starting line-up for Real Madrid tonight, so we won’t see that electric pace that saw him score the winner in the Copa del Rey against Barcelona (unless they unleash him from the bench). Last season Bale was clocked at 34.7 km/hour while running with the ball, quicker than Ronaldo (33.6km/h) according to FIFA statistics. Both Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben also made the top 10 in the world. I doubt Xavi Alonso or Bastian Schweinsteiger would make the top 100, but their passing will be key to releasing those whippets tonight.

The Bernabeu is pretty much the best soccer stadium in the world in my book — though, I’ll admit, I haven’t been to Brentford’s, which has pubs in each corner of the stands. It seats 81,000, but the way the five decks (count ‘em) are stacked on top of each other makes it feel like twice as many. The stands are so high and steep that the field looks like it’s wedged in between four cliffs. What that means is that the noise stays in.

The whole place is white and blue tonight, except for the corner of the stadium where the fourth and fifth decks have been turned completely red by the Bayern fans. They’ve been in here singing and setting up their banners from all over Bavaria for over an hour. Still, they’ll have to get pretty loud to match the performance from the Dortmund supporters when they came here for the semifinals a year ago.

Just a side note to that…. I used to play for Brentford’s youth team and pre-season involved lapping Griffin Park and having a beer in each of the 4 pubs. It was tough for a 16 year old, and not sure that’s how youth teams are run these days!

Five minutes to kick off. The famous Champions League music is about to start. Real Madrid have won their last seven UEFA Champions League home matches – a win tonight would see them make it eight in a row for the first time since May 2000-April 2001. However, Bayern are undefeated in their last 10 UEFA Champions League away matches – their best such run in the competition. Something has to give.

This type of game needs an official like Englishman Howard Webb, who took charge of the 2010 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Webb will be in Brazil, come June, but today’s match will have the calming authority that Webb provides.

Not many teams can come into the Bernabeu as favorites, but you have to say that Bayern are the team to beat. They are the holders, have already won their domestic title and have a coach who knows exactly how to deal with Real Madrid. A confident start from the Germans too, pressing Madrid high up the field and committing a few fouls just to let the crowd know they’re not intimidated.

We seem to have settled into an early pattern, with Bayern enjoying most of the possession and Real, potentially looking to strike on the break (although they’ve started an awful lot higher than Atletico and Chelsea did in last night’s snooze).

Real’s giving the ball away all over the field, which is really not recommended against Bayern. The most recent turnover was a haphazard Sergio Ramos clearance that went straight to Ribery. Nothing came of it, but Real needs to start hanging onto the ball.

Arjen Robben should pass more, but I wouldn’t want to tell him that. He has really quick feet and has already threatened to get in behind. Bayern absolutely dominating the ball, with Real actually looking a bit rushed and nervous in the opening 10 minutes. Ancelotti looks pensive on the sidelines, but he’ll be confident Luka Modric and Xavi Alonso can win their share of the central midfield battles. They just can’t get near the ball yet.

It’s a Bayern corner from the left side and it should worry Real how easily Mandzukic was first to that ball. He completely shakes his marker and tries to head it down for a teammate. But he doesn’t find one and Real clears the danger.

Has Real even been outside of its own half in the last couple of minutes? We’ve Ribery in tons of space on the left, then Robben taking on all comers on the right. Now a shot from Kroos, I believe, is deflected wide for a corner. Bayern manages to put a head on it, but the effort is straight at Casillas.

Bayern’s style of hunting in packs when they do lose the ball is really troubling Real. Pepe tries to step out with the ball, but was shut down by 4 players. Robben just flashed a drive wide after his teammates won the ball back quickly again. The pressure is building on the home team, and Sergio Ramos and company are being forced to bang long balls that are going straight through to Manuel Neuer. Real finally keep the ball for more than 3 passes, but are still trying to find a way to get Cristiano Ronaldo in the game.

A first hint of something incisive from Real nearly sees Benzema put through on goal, but he’s flagged for offside. Much of Real’s trouble right now comes from the fact that Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso, who are normally in charge of bringing the ball up through the middle, have been choked by this Bayern press.

Quick counter by Real results in a Benzema goal as a shot on goal from Bayern deflects off of Pepe that began the quick scheme from Real. Benzema has five goals in nine matches in Champions League play.

It was probably Bayern’s best chance that led to Real’s goal. Mandzukic’s header back to Kross saw a fantastic block from Sergio Ramos, and as the ball broke loose, Madrid were away on the counterattack. A sublime pass from Cristiano put Fabio Coentrao away and he provided the perfect pass for Benzema. Even a drunk 16 year old trainee could have score from then (see the pre-match comments for that to make any sense!).

Real takes the lead against the run of play with a stunning counter, moments after Kroos saw his volley blocked. Fabio Coentrao found himself in an acre of space on the left and delivered a perfect ball across the six-yard box, bypassing a Bayern defender, to find an unmarked Benzema.

Barely a minute later, Ronaldo nearly makes it two. A cross from the right from Di Maria found him perfectly, but Ronaldo’s header is aimed straight at Neuer.

In the two minutes since the goal, Bayern has picked up exactly where it left off — pressing high and moving the ball forward on the wings. And where does that get them? Another counter sees Di Maria take a shot for Real.

Real Madrid are playing like the away team, and it’s working for them. They look very dangerous when they break and Bayern have committed too many men forward. Di Maria had a shot from 25 yards, but a better pass and Benzema could have been away. Bayern will continue to press, but that is playing into the home team’s hands right now. Ronaldo doesn’t quite look fit to me, but his 50% healthy is better than most players at 100%. He really should have made it 2-0 there though – a great cross finds him unmarked on the penalty spot but he skies his first time effort over the bar.

Another excellent chance for Madrid! A sublime break after a rushed Bayern throw-in sees Benzema played in on the left. His cross catches Bayern sitting too high and Ronaldo and Di Maria are both in position to finish it across the top of the box. Ronaldo hits it, but it goes high and wide.

Bayern hasn’t created a real opening since the Kroos chance that led to Real’s goal. A couple of crosses from Robben on the right, but not much more, even though Mandzukic has been consistently getting on the end of them.

Early stats suggest Bayern have had 73% of the possession and 7 corners to Real’s 0, but there is only one statistic that counts, and that’s the early goal by Karim Benzema. Bayern may have been slightly the better team, but Real have created the better chances. The home side are starting to pressure the ball a little higher, but they won’t want to commit too many men forward as Bayern are passing the ball around crisply without really testing Iker Casillas.

Love him or hate him, Pepe is taking control of Real’s area, helping to stifle any Bavarian attack. Robben appears to be getting frustrated as another cross falls into Casillas’ hands before he takes control and skies another effort.

What was that about Robben needing to pass more? He goes practically coast-to-coast with the ball at his feet, ignoring his teammates, and taking Luka Modric with him, only to float a useless shot too high.

Barely a couple of minutes after Robben’s central shot is well blocked by Alonso, another chance falls to Di Maria. The Real cross from Isco on the left is too high for Ronaldo, but finds Di Maria unmarked at the back post. He tries to take it on the half-volley, but it’s way, way over.

Barely a couple of minutes after Robben’s central shot is well blocked by Alonso, another chance falls to Di Maria. The Real cross from Isco on the left is too high for Ronaldo, but finds Di Maria unmarked at the back post. He tries to take it on the half-volley, but it’s way, way over.

Incredible how dangerously Real has been breaking in this first half. A simple ball out wide to Carvajal opens up the whole right side before he switches back to Ronaldo. Ronaldo elects to shoot, but his effort is deflected.

An enthralling half of football. Bayern had more of the ball, Real had more of the chances. Pepe winning the battle of the hair with Dante, as Bayern look very vulnerable to the counterattack. I think Real have to go for the second goal as they can’t keep soaking up the pressure without Bayern getting at least one good chance. One half of football already 10 times more exciting than yesterday’s game.

Just to add to Joe’s commentary, Bayern had close to 80% of possession and nine corner kicks. Real had two dead-ball situations that could have given them a massive advantage. Second half set to kick off.

The coaches look so stressed. Big clubs have such high expectations (as David Moyes found out), and you’d have to think both these clubs would expect to be in the last 4 every year. Real are pushing early here and they’d want to take more than a one-goal advantage to Germany next week, but they will be desperate not to concede. Bayern don’t go many games without scoring, and they have plenty of attacking options on the bench.

Schweinsteiger and Robben are giving Howard Webb, the English referee, a stern talking to here. The incident they really didn’t like was Daniel Carvajal writhing around on the ground after taking a hip to the face.

Not the most convincing work from Casillas as he flaps away a low Bayern cross from the right. The visitors are back to enjoying most of the possession, but they still haven’t found a way in behind the Real back line.

Meanwhile, applause from the Bernabeu as Gareth Bale starts warming up on the sideline.

Pep may go to Thomas Muller soon. Mario Mandzukic has had a few opportunities, but Muller is more of a poacher. Bayern are starting to create more and maybe need someone to nick one. The telecast shows Gareth Bale warming up to loud applause from the home fans. It’s not like Real don’t have options on the bench too. Who’s going to crack first and make a change? Guardiola and Ancelotti were pretty competitive midfielders and they have taken that streak into management – neither will want to give an inch.

Kroos whips in a free kick from the right side, but once again, Real clears it fairly comfortably. We should point out that Bayern’s been doing a better job of slowing down the breaks, though, even if that means committing a foul in the center circle.

You could argue that Robben asks to be kicked, but he earns a lot of free kicks in important areas. He’s very one footed at times though and Real just need to stop him coming inside. Sergio Ramos and Fabio Coentrao have kicked him most times he goes outside, and you have to think another yellow will be out soon. It’s amazing Pepe has made it to the hour mark without a card.

Robben sees things open for him drifting in from the right (as usual). He ends up toe-poking a weak shot at Casillas when he might have played in the wide open Rafinha to his right. Wasted opportunity there.

It’s all getting rather nervous at the back for Bayern. Neuer shows quick feet to deal with an uncomfortable back pass with Ronaldo bearing down on him, but his clearance goes straight to a white shirt. The ensuing cross back into his box is only just nipped away by Boateng.

Interesting stat on Uefa.com… Bayern have scored in each of their last 13 UEFA Champions League away matches – since their 1-0 Round of 16, First leg defeat by FC Basel 1893 in February 2012. They have just under half an hour to keep that streak going.

Great heads-up play from Coentrao, the left back, who takes a quick free kick from inside his own half to play Ronaldo nearly through on goal. Ronaldo shoots left-footed from 12 yards out and it’s well blocked by Neuer. Ronaldo pulls a face, because he knows that was a chance to bury this game.

Neuer been busier this half and his latest contribution is saving Modric’s long-range effort. Moments later, his counterpart Casillas does well to punch Lahm’s high cross away from danger. He’s not the biggest keeper Casillas — just over six feet — but he asserted himself well there.

Pepe’s on the turf again and signals to the bench that he’s done for the night. He seems to be holding his right thigh. He’ll be replaced by Raphael Varane, Real’s first substitute of the night. Ancelotti then makes his second right away, bringing on Bale for Cristiano Ronaldo. Neither one is fully fit tonight, but they make a pretty good platoon, don’t they?

There are bodies lying strewn all over the pitch. Pepe suggests he has a hamstring injury and give the universal “sub me” sign to the bench. Sergio Ramos was down for a bit and there are physios and trainers everywhere. Varane is on for Pepe – he must be hurt as he usually fakes and injury to get someone else a yellow card! I hope he doesn’t read the blog in the dressing room as he has a bit of a reputation for leaving the boot in shall we say!

Hang on, we’ve got one more substitution: Bayern brings on Thomas Muller for Bastian Schweinsteiger. Guardiola is definitely changing things up. Looks like Martinez and Kroos are taking over in the center with Gotze out on the left and Muller supporting Mandzukic up front.

Robben getting lots of instructions from Pep Guardiola for the last 15 minutes. Pep losing his cool? Unlikely, he knows his Bayern team have plenty of time in this game and another 90 minutes on their own turf. Do Real just try and hold on here? They are still pushing forward, much to Pep’s frustration. The camera has just shown him throwing water bottles and looking to the sky. Maybe he does feel pressure after all.

We’ve spoken a lot about the excellent job the Real defenders have done tonight, but Fabio Coentrao, the left back, has really stood out for me. He’s done well against Robben — he must know that he always cuts onto his left foot — and he’s gotten forward at every opportunity, too. He delivered the assist on Benzema’s goal and might have had a second earlier in the half.

Muller fires one from the edge of the penalty area. It caught a white shirt and went just wide, but at least it’s something positive from Bayern. For all of their high pressure, the visitors just haven’t clicked in the final third. The lasting image of Bayern’s offensive efforts tonight may be Robben running down blind alleys.

Muller didn’t quite wrap his foot around that one, but that’s a warning sign for the last 10 minutes. I’m not quite sure who is happier at this point. If Ronaldo has re-aggravated that injury, then I’d have to say Bayern are still favorites in the tie. Mario Gotze has a chance too – it’s getting a little chaotic at the back for Real after Pepe’s injury. The reshuffle has caused them to hunker down for the closing minutes.

Huge save by Casillas! Just after Sergio Ramos takes out his own defender, Coentrao, the ball breaks to Gotze all alone in the penalty area. He shoots low and hard, but Casillas is down to his right with both palms to block. That’s a potentially tie-turning save if Bayern goes home without an away goal. The fans in the Bernabeu genuflect in appreciation.

Bayern have completed twice as many passes as Real have attempted according to Uefa, but they still trail. They have had 65% possession and 31 ‘dangerous attacks’ – although I don’t know how they classify those! Gareth Bale has really got the afterburners on too – and that’s the last thing defenders want to face in the closing stages. Bale forced Dante to hack over and then drove one into the side-netting. Both teams still going for it in the final stages – they do know there’s another 90 mins to come, don’t they?

Robben busts through middle, trades passes with Muller, and then sets up Lahm for the cross. Once again Mandzukic is able to head down, but Gotze (I think) gets his legs tangled with Real defender and can’t turn in time to shoot. Huge shouts for a penalty from the Bayern players, but nothing doing with Howard Webb.

That’s it! Real takes the first leg of this semifinal against the defending champions 1-0. A superb defensive performance, combined with incisive play on the break set Karim Benzema up for the desicive goal in the 19th minute. An outstanding result for the Spanish side to take to Germany next Tuesday.

So after two Champions League semifinal first legs in Madrid on back-to-back nights, the home sides have successfully defended their turf. Atletico might have hoped for more against Chelsea last night, but settled for the 0-0 draw. And tonight, Real has taken a big step toward the final. They’ll take the lead to Munich next week and that fateful “Decima” might just be a little closer.

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